Don't worry, friends!! I haven't forgotten you!
Marc furiously tore through his locker. "Come on! Where is it?" He muttered.
"Looking for this?" He turned to see Marinette holding a small, black…
"My journal!" The boy grabbed it, clutching it to his chest. Marc sighed gratefully before freezing. "Wait. Y-you didn't read it, did you?" The girl nodded sheepishly. He groaned. "Aw man! No one's supposed to read it! It's just stories I've made up or wished would happen…" Marc slid down the wall of lockers, dropping his head into his hands.
Marinette joined him on the ground. She patted his shoulder. "They were a fun read, Marc! You seem to write exactly what Nathaniel draws. I think it would be a great idea for you two to collaborate on a comic book." Marc leaned his head back.
"I've thought about that. I saw his artwork on the school website. The lines are so clean and the faces he draws… they're just so expressive! I just get too nervous to ask him about it." He looked at the book of stories in his lap. "If only there was a way for him to decide to do it based on the merit of the story, not the writer."
An idea began to form. "I think I've got something… Trust me."
xXx
"Is this really such a good idea, Marinette?" Marc was hunkered down next to his friend behind the stairs as they watched Nathaniel showing Chloe how to sketch people as they moved.
Marinette dismissed the notion. "Of course, it is. By erasing your name from the title page, Nathaniel won't know that you're the one who wrote the stories. He'll judge them on their own merits."
He drew his hood over his head. "That's what I'm afraid of."
"You know it's not nice to spy on people." Adrien sidled up to where the pair was hiding. Both Marinette and Marc jumped, the boy practically falling over. Once Marinette regained her composure, she punched her boyfriend in the arm. He grinned as he massaged the sore spot. "What are you guys doing spying on Nath and Chloe?"
"We're not reallyspying on them," The girl protested. She then explained the master plan.
Adrien frowned. "Marinette, you know that your plans don't have the best track record of turning out the way they're supposed to. My gut's telling me that this is a bad idea." Marc whimpered as Marinette rubbed his arm reassuringly.
"I have this well in hand, Adrien. I've got a good feeling about this one."
The boy shrugged, realizing that nothing he said would change her mind. "Just be careful, alright?" She quickly kissed his nose.
"When am I not?"
xXx
The final bell rang as students streamed out of the school. Among them were Nathaniel and Chloe. The blonde clutched her new sketchbook to her chest.
"Thanks for trying to teach me about art, Nathaniel. I doubt that I'll ever be as good as you, but it's definitely a fun way to unwind and relax!"
The boy smiled warmly. "You're welcome, Chloe. It's been fun hanging out with you. And don't worry- you'll get better with practice."
Before either one of them could say another word, Marinette appeared out of nowhere, startling them both. Chloe placed a hand over her rapidly beating heart.
"Geez, Marinette! Creep much?"
The bluenette made a face. "Sorry, guys. I wanted to catch you before you left for the day." She held a small black book. Nath, someone asked me to let you borrow this."
"Who's someone?" Curious, he took the book from her.
Marinette shook her head, smiling. "I can't tell you; it's a secret!" She ran down the steps of the school. "Read it, and then we'll talk." The girl winked as she ran home.
Curious as her friend, Chloe peered over his shoulder as Nathaniel cracked open the cover. "Diary of… Ladybug?" He gasped. Chloe quirked an eyebrow as he flipped to the next page.
"I call up my Lucky Charm as Chat Noir wields his Cataclysm," He read."And, together, we defeat the Evillustrator! #poundit But even though we won this fight, something keeps bugging me… I know Evillustrator's real identity and think that he could be a great ally! However, Chat Noir doesn't want to put anyone else in danger. Instead, I sometimes try to keep an eye on him if I happen to fly over his school. I'm waiting for the day we can make him a hero too…"
Nathaniel close the book, his pulse racing. "Ladybug… wants me… to become a hero? Is- is this even real?"
"I'm about to find out," Chloe muttered, whipping out her phone. "I need to get home. I'll see you tomorrow, Nath."
"Yeah… sure…" He sat on the steps, already lost in the book.
xXx
C: What did you just give to Nathaniel? I know for a fact that's not 'Ladybug's' diary
M: It's my friend Marc's. He likes to write stories about LB! We both think he should team up w/ Nath for a comic book; he's just too shy to ask him directly
We erased his name from the front page, so Nath won't know who wrote it
C: Well, now he thinks LB is the one who wrote it! He thinks it's her actual diary. M, I don't think this is a good idea…
M:… Adrien said that too…
The plan's already in motion. We'll just have to ride it out. Who knows? Maybe Nath will appreciate that Marc has a spark of LB's voice!
C: I hope you're right…
xXx
Marinette drew a shaky breath as she used her camera to zoom in on the fountain at the Place des Vosges where Marc was waiting. Tikki was settled comfortably on the girl's shoulder.
"This is it, Tikki; the final phase of 'Operation: Comic Book'. Oh, I hope this works!"
Nathaniel entered the park warily. He double checked the time on his phone. Yep. It was the right time and place to meet the author of the diary. He could hardly believe it- Nathaniel was about to meet Ladybug!
Looking around anxiously, Nathaniel spotted someone in a red hoodie sitting by the fountain. He hurried over; excitement written on his face.
"Ladybug?" He asked hopefully.
Excitement turned to shock and disappointment as not Ladybug pulled down their hood. "What?! You're not Ladybug!"
Marc appeared as shocked as the artist. "Of course not. It's me- Marc. We met in the art room. I'm the one who wrote 'The Diary of Ladybug.' Didn't Marinette tell you to meet me here?"
"Marinette?" Disappointment turned to anger as he turned to said-girl's building. He could see her filming them from her balcony.
Tikki gasped as Marinette fumbled with her phone. "Uh oh, Tikki! I think 'Operation: Comic Book' has hit a snag!" Why didn't I listen to Adrien and Chloe?"
Nathaniel pointed an accusatory finger at Marc. "You guys were trying to make me look stupid, weren't you? Did you think that I still have a crush on Ladybug? Because you're wrong! I haven't felt that way about her in a while!" His voice began to crack as he overshared.
Marc held up his hands in self-defense, almost falling into the fountain. "No! Not at all! I don't know anything about your feelings – or lack of feelings – for Ladybug! I-I just… want to make… a comic book with you… if you want to, that is."
"A comic book? With you? NEVER!" The red head snarled. He pulled the journal from his bag. Nathaniel's rage fueled his emotions as he tore the book in half.
"NO!" Marc lunged for the remains of his precious book as Nathaniel stormed away.
Marinette pocketed her phone. "We need to get down there, Tikki!" The girl and her kwami scrambled down the ladder into Marinette's room.
xXx
After the confrontation, the park was quiet; the only sound besides Mr. Ramier's pigeons that could be heard was Marc sobbing over his ruined dreams. He didn't even notice the akuma that connected with one of the loose pages of his journal. Gasping at the sudden surge of power, Marc heard a voice in his mind.
"Reverser, I am Hawkmoth. You have been accused of being someone that you're not, so from now on, no one will be who they claim to be. I'm giving you the power to invert anyone. Everyone you touch will become the opposite of their true selves. In return, I want Ladybug and Chat Noir's Miraculous."
Marc grinned. "Nothing will be the same anymore, Hawkmoth!" He threw his book onto the ground. It transformed into a giant paper glider. Marinette rushed onto the scene just as Marc was enveloped by a familiar purple aura.
"Marc! What happened?"
Reverser turned to the girl, half of his body white; half of it black. "I'm not Marc anymore. I am REVERSER! And you, Marinette!" The villain pointed to her. "YOU are the one responsible for all of this!"